As Cyclone Michaung advances towards the southern coast of India, it has already unleashed heavy rainfall in Chennai and various parts of Tamil Nadu. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal transformed into Cyclone Michaung on Sunday morning, positioning itself 230 km away from Chennai by the afternoon. Moving at a speed of 11 kmph, the cyclone is expected to intensify further as it approaches the north of Tamil Nadu and south of Andhra Pradesh on December 4.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Chennai, urging residents to take precautionary measures. The cyclone is forecasted to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on December 5. In preparation for the impending weather conditions, the Tamil Nadu government has declared the closure of all schools, government offices, and banks in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalpattu on Monday.
Relief and rescue operations are in full swing, with ten teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) stationed in the affected regions. Essential services, including police, fire services, medical facilities, and supply chains, are expected to function without disruption.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, addressing the situation from the state emergency center in Chennai, informed the public that over 20 million residents likely to be impacted have been alerted via WhatsApp. The government has created a protective situation, focusing on safeguarding people amidst the cyclone’s approach.
Critics from the AIADMK have raised concerns about the DMK government’s ability to manage the situation, but Chief Minister Stalin emphasized that the priority is the safety of the people rather than politicizing the issue. The government has set up 121 multipurpose centers and 4,967 relief camps with essential amenities in coastal regions, along with an additional 876.19 km of stormwater drains constructed since May 2021 to mitigate flooding risks.
Drones have been deployed to monitor 5,820 sq km of Chennai’s basin, identifying water flow, inundation, and connectivity issues in physically inaccessible areas for swift corrective measures.
